The Sochi Olympics are now in full swing a day after the winter games were declared officially open on February 7 by Russian President Vladimir Putin. February 8 saw plenty of action in a number of disciplines, including snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing, speed and figure skating, and the biathlon.
Winter Olympics, Day 1
1
Russia's Aleksandr Glebov takes off in a training session for the men's alpine skiing downhill race at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center.
2
Yuki Kadono of Japan competes in the men's snowboard slopestyle final.
3
A snowboarder arrives at the finish area for the men's snowboard slopestyle final.
4
U.S. snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg celebrates winning the games' first gold medal in the men’s slopestyle final.
5
Athletes in action during the women's 7.5 kilometer + 7.5 kilometer skiathlon competition in the Laura Cross Country Center.
6
Marit Bjoergen of Norway (right) celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 7.5 kilometer + 7.5 kilometer skiathlon competition.
7
Athletes lie exhausted on the ground after the 7.5 kilometer + 7.5 kilometer skiathlon.
8
Katie Uhlaender of the United States speeds down the track during a women's skeleton training session at the Sanki sliding center in Rosa Khutor.
10
Aleksandr Rumyanstsev of Russia competes in the men's 5,000 meters speed skating race.
11
The coach of Kazakhstan's Dmitriy Babenko yells instructions during the men's 5,000 meters speed skating race at the Adler Arena.
12
A multiesposure image captures the Netherlands' Jan Blokhuijsen in action during the men's 5,000 meters speed skating race.
13
Sven Kramer of the Netherlands shows his delight after winning and setting an Olympic record time in the men's 5,000 meters speed skating race.
14
The United States' Brianna Decker (left) goes one on one with Finland's goalkeeper Noora Raty during the second period of their women's preliminary round ice-hockey game.
15
Heather McPhie of the United States in action during qualification for the freestyle skiing ladies' moguls competition.
16
Street artists perform in front of the Olympic cauldron in Sochi.
17
Sweden's Fredrik Lindstroem competes in the men's biathlon 10 kilometer sprint event.
18
Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen wins his seventh Olympic gold medal in the men's biathlon 10 kilometer sprint.
19
U.S.-born Siobhan Heekin-Canedy (top) and Dmitry Dun compete for Ukraine in the short dance figure-skating competition.
20
The Olympic torch burns in the Sochi Olympic Park on February 8.